Pasadena High academic team cleared to go to Thailand

Pasadena High School students will be on their way to Thailand next week to participate in an international academic competition, despite school district officials’ initial reservations about sending the teenagers to the foreign country.

The three students won a place in the global round of the World Scholar’s Cup, which begins next week in Bangkok. They will be heading in the competition as the No. 1 seed, having scored the highest marks in their regional round out of 5,000 teams around the world that competed.

Pasadena Independent School District Superintendent Kirk Lewis earlier said he had his doubts about the safety of the country and was conflicted about letting the students go to a country that may be dangerous for a school-sponsored event. He met with the students and their parents on Tuesday to discuss the matter.

On Wednesday, he made his decision: The students and two teachers were cleared to go.

Junior Eduardo Aleman, 17, said he and his teammates received a call from their teacher Wednesday morning notifying them that they would be able to go on their trip. He said the district also agreed to pay for all their flights, which he said would cost about $10,000.

Aleman said he is not sure how the team convinced the superintendent to let them go.

“I think we instilled some sort of emotional response within him at the meeting,” he said. “I’m still trying to figure that out.”

Pasadena Sophomore Pedro Reyes,16, said the team practiced for months to win the regional competition. The third team member is sophomore Alondra Serna, 15.

Pasadena ISD spokeswoman Renea Ivy-Sims said the program ensured school district officials that security would be provided to the students and they would mostly be interacting with other students, which helped alleviate some of the district’s safety concerns. The students’ teacher and the assistant principal, who has experience with international travel, will be accompanying the students, she said.

The Pasadena team will join about 1,000 other students from over 30 countries in Bangkok from June 21-24. They will debate motions, write essays, take tests, and work together to solve tough multimedia challenges—all on cutting-edge topics, from biotechnology to the global economic crisis.

“I can’t wait to encounter them,” said Rachel Chiu, 16, of Hong Kong, one of many students who had sent letters to the Pasadena school district on the team’s behalf, according to a statement releasd by the program.

The winners will receive medals and trophies and bring home all the pride and glory of winning, said Daniel Berdichevsky, the group’s international program director. He said he was grateful for the superintendent’s decision.

“I know they will represent the United States with the same passion, intellect and persistence they showed in persuading the district to allow them to make the journey in the first place,” he said. “It’s so nice to see this happy ending.”